A couple of years ago, my mother gave a small metal crucifix. She got it, when Anthony passed away back in ’93. As I recall, it came with Anthony’s coffin and she wanted to keep it. Years later, my mother gave it to me for she thought it would be a nice way to remember my younger brother.
For me, I appreciated what the crucifix stood for. It is a sharp reminder of what Jesus went through, on my behalf. I happily took the crucifix and purposed to hang it up, when possible. I, also wanted to hang up a large Celtic style cross that I brought in Phoenix, AZ.
The day came and I proceeded to hang both symbols of my faith in my room. I decided to hang them on opposite walls. As I hung up the crucifix, the word “surrender” flashed in my mind. I knew it to be from the Holy Spirit and paused to consider its meaning. When I hung up the cross, the word “freedom” came to my mind.
After some more consideration, the following phrase came to mind:
“To have freedom; one needs to surrender”
What does this means? In my heart, I could tell that Jesus was asking me to surrender; just as He surrender himself. As I thought this, Hebrews 12:2 came to mind:
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus was calling me, to die to self. I had to stop being “Mr. Independent” and be wholly dependent on the Father. In this, I would achieve the freedom that I desired. It is a freedom that comes from being in Christ.
For the record, I am still working on it and have a way to go. What about you? Are you walking in the freedom that comes from being in Christ?
Christianity Explained 
This is a good post. I find dying to myself is a daily and sometimes moment by moment thing. But I know this, when we get there, we are there. The peace and freedom which comes with it, is more than I can fathom. God Bless, SR
I appreciate the fact that, in your surrender, you did not “choose between” the Risen Lord, as the Cross more aptly represents, and the one who died for us, as the Crucifix makes visible to us. Both are valid symbols and both can be used to bring us closer to our Lord Jesus. And, as the previous responder said, dying daily or even moment by moment is tough stuff! Listening is tough too. Good words.